we're on our 100-city 2012 to wear. we're joined for the hour here in washington by alice walker, the pulitzer prize-winning author, at this year is the 30th anniversary of her momentous -- this is the 30 anniversary of her momentous "the color purple." she is reading from the book at george mason, speaking to the audience. we are in the nation's capital. the present lives not far from here, alice walker. -- the president lives not far from here, alice walker. i remember sitting with you at his inauguration in 2008, the first african-american president. you have written a poem in this election year. i was wondering if he would share it with us. >> i would like to. it is dedicated to maathai. she resolved to bring the earth back to life with trees. you ask me why i smile when you tell me you intend in the coming national elections to hold your nose evils. there are more than two evils out there, is one reason i smile. another is that our old buddy nostradamus comes to mind, with his dreadful 400 year old prophecy: that o